Town Hall

Most events at Town Hall on First Hill are just $5—and man, do you get a bang for your buck. This is the place to hear about the latest scientific innovations, see visitings actors and celebrities in person, engage in lively community discussions, and listen to authors, intellectuals, and professors talk about what makes their brains light up. The people in charge of booking at Town Hall are especially great at tuning into the current sociopolitical moment, offering the latest and brightest in economic analysis, environmentalism, and social justice. And best of all: their space is huge, so last-minute tickets are often available (even for famous headliners). (JULIA RABAN)